First UA: 87/21 Index: ASA 16/4502/2021 Myanmar Date: 22 July 2021 URGENT ACTION HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER FACES 3 YEARS IN PRISON Prominent human rights defender, Thin Thin Aung is facing three years in prison over materials published and broadcast by the media outlet she co-founded. She is among hundreds facing similar charges and thousands arbitrarily detained since the 1 February coup simply for the peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. The Myanmar military must immediately and unconditionally release Thin Thin Aung and all others in arbitrary detention and drop all charges against them. TAKE ACTION: WRITE AN APPEAL IN YOUR OWN WORDS OR USE THIS MODEL LETTER Dr Thida Oo Union Attorney General Office No. 25 Nay Pyi Taw, Republic of the Union of Myanmar Fax: + 95 67 404106 Email:
[email protected] Dear Union Attorney General Dr Thida Oo, I am writing to express my grave concern about the prosecution of Thin Thin Aung, who has been targeted simply for her connection to news outlet Mizzima, which has reported on the Myanmar coup and subsequent human rights violations by security forces. She is among the more than 5,200 individuals who are in detention simply for the peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. I urge you to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of her and thousands of others who remain arbitrarily detained across Myanmar. Thin Thin Aung was arrested in Yangon on 8 April 2021 and is facing up to three years in prison under Section 505 (a) of the Penal Code.